036 - Behold the Man. Behold Your King

You pick up your Bible. One is more here than meets the is there something here for me. I mean it's just words printed on paper right it may look like just print on the page but it's more than a join us for the next half hour, as we explore God's word together as we learn how to explore it on our own. As we ask God to meet us there in its pages welcome to more than the theory are the day after Friday the plan as John said in his gospel beginning behold the Lamb of God who takes away close and personal view John the apostle crucifixion today unrelenting.

By doing this on Jim Dorothy and we continue our little wave gospel John were glad you're with us and we hope that your not only learning how to read the Bible for yourself, but you're actually finding God in the pages of these words and that's why we call this broadcast more than Inc. because these are more that this is more than just think is a more just words on paper. There's something else is going on. That's much deeper that the Holy Spirit so I hope that's what you're experiencing is redoing this and today we are broadcasting on April 3 which is the day between Friday and Easter in 2021 and here we are in John 19 and today we we read about the actual crucifixion of Jesus. Now I've been thinking this week preparing reading this passage in preparing for Good Friday service that what is the significance of the cross and so there's just one passage. It just keeps ringing in my head an answer like to start with Besser then we can read John's text. Paul says in first Corinthians 18 at 118 for the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness to us who are being saved. It's the power of God little farther down the passage in verse 23 says we preach Christ right Messiah, God sent one crucified to Jews a stumbling block to Gentiles foolishness.

But to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God and he became to us he says. By the end of the chapter by his doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that just as is written. Let him who boasts boast in the Lord. So I'm just really been drawn to that that whole mindset, thinking about the cross this week that the world just rejects it its utter foolishness Consolidation happened by somebody dying in this brutal registry yeah and so as I have been reading this text. This week I not just the first Corinthians text but John's text. I've just been so struck by the detail that John lavishes on this event from a very up close and personal point of view. If you remember he has while you you'll see he has quite a viewpoint to the crucifixion is there very personal there with the mother of Jesus and some other berries and so like you said is a start of the book. He said I'm writing the things that you will know I'm firsthand when this number and tell you what I saw. So even today and through chapter 19 we will see some aspects of the crucifixion that are not told in the other Gospels because it is right because of the strengths perspective. So that's really very special as you mention those passages and many of those so many more. There is so much going on at the cross that is more than just the narrative story or look at the narrative story today what John tells us, but there is gigantic consequence. This is not just about tragic string record history. This is the predetermined plan of God. Indeed, that John's Gospel makes a huge point from the very beginning that this is the story of the Lamb of God, the one with sacrifice for sin and and Paul says in second 521, he made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

So there really is the crux of it.

That's a plan where access shares.

The cross let varietals there yeah yeah so let's read the story. John 19 and and I would encourage you before forget about it. If you get a chance after you read this to read Isaiah 53 is a 53 is a fascinating chapter that actually tells this very same story centuries before the crucifixion itself and and and pulls in the importer what's going on. Someone just leave that they write that down somewhere. Isaiah 53 and to be shocked at what you see there in parallel to what were going to read right now so you will start off share chapter 19 verse one long text in front of no actually, there is then piloted Jesus and flaunting the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe and they came up to him, saying, hail, King of the Jews and struck him with their hands went out again and said to them, see, and bring them out to you so that you may know that I find no guilt. So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, behold, when the chief priests and officer saw him, they cried out as if I him by him. Pilate said to them, taking yourselves, and crucified him for. I find no guilt in him. The Jews answered him, we have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the son of God.

When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, where are you from, but Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, you will not speak to me. Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you Jesus answered him, you would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.

We left Pilate in the last chapter 18 yeah you know trying to tell people that I find no final fence basic. I find no crime and no present cried out. We want Barabbas instead. Robert was off.

So now it looks as though Pilate takes the tact of well maybe if I beat Jesus up some maybe they'll appease the people enough to give up this crazy thing I we don't know if the pilots really struggling with his conscience about doing the wrong thing here, but when he actually decides that the strategy is to have Jesus flogged and beaten, would somehow make the make his accusers happy and yet part of themselves as the skies not guilty of anything, so he is already transgressing any conscience.

He has because he knows Jesus doesn't deserve this, but this is boy this is kind of to give with the crowds what they want all bloodied Jesus and in that process maybe we don't have to go through the process. The actual killing and so that's what he attempts to do by the way to the flogging is not is not incidental. This is a significant beating. Yeah it it's yes and it's nearly deaf inducing is not just couple stretched across the back And this is a really big deal.

And on top of that Jesus predicted in the I know the other Gospels. He predicted that he would be beaten also with stripes that's there is also there in Isaiah 53. We talked about so this isn't this isn't just you know of forestalling this is actually been predicted and this is going to happen so they take them out and they flogged him in an attempt in an attempt to sway the crowds do not actually have killed. This is making and it's not just the beating. There is the humiliation right because pyrite is turning him over to the Roman soldiers to have their way to make fun to entertain themselves at his expense. So that's where the crown of thorns and the purple robe come in the work extravagantly humiliating. This claimant has been getting them to be king will give you a crown was given to rope you exactly so.

So this humiliation that that's actually one of the things he's doing. This is not just beating up Jesus, hoping that's enough abuse for the crowds, but to say luck you call this guy king like we've done to this working there's a lot of there's a lot of levels of humiliation going on here, but Pilate you know he's trying to be the guy who somehow keeps the peace and figures.

This might be the path really had not done a very good job of keeping the peace of Jerusalem and he was a fairly brutal governor.

That's right know is also an inverse six who was crying out, crucify him yeah is the chief of police racing on the officers of the templates of those guys who really were offended by Jews. It wasn't the larger crowds of people who by the way the beginning the week followed him down the Mount of olives on a great process on Palm Sunday what's in them. It was it was the chief priests and the officers and crucified. So that's the one to do it and then and then pilots as well if you got a beef with this guy when you crucify them do that and another way to can get out from under responsibility may say we can't resist law is law. You can't do it. The law actually Leviticus 2416 says you must put to death. Anyone who makes himself out to be God, right right and the death penalty was to be carried out by stoning. So I would encourage you if you have a cross reference in your Bible at this point. Go back and read that Leviticus passage and read exec. That's the law that they're appealing to yet because they were in occupied people. They didn't have the Roman permission to execute their own death penalty so they had to come to to pilot and request that to be done yet and it's a it's a significant prophecy about the crucifixion, because normally if someone is going to fake the Old Testament prophecies they'd say that the Messiah would be stoned. That would be really the expected route, but that would fulfill that Leviticus is the law that we have a legal way of doing that, but that's not the case here we have this weird anomaly quote unquote that is crucified, and this is was prefigured so so that's what happens.

Also is interesting in verse eight says Pilate heard the statement is more afraid was more afraid. Afraid yeah yeah he was afraid because they say that he made himself out to be a son of God. So what were talking about this at this claim right here. Pilate realizes this just isn't a power struggle or civil dispute. This is an issue of religion and and course as a Roman he would know how the Jews first for so long had been so monotheistic. It had been so punitive against the Romans in a polytheistic culture of God, he would know that these guys you know when they get up or undersell about religion. This is a serious deal is a serious deal.

So when they went. When this issue comes up. He claims be son of God. He has more cause to be concerned because he is track record with the condemnation of the Jews against polytheism and so were talking son of got there very seriously. And now, maybe he's actually even contemplate the fact that maybe the claim might be true. Well, maybe there's something more to this guy than just exactly the civil claims. Yeah, that's the way I have always read it, I really haven't thought of it from you.

From that perspective you just described the claimant be son of God. He's he's afraid. What ever the significance as it stops Pilate in his tracks yeah and so he actually scheduled another private conversation, let's go back inside to go back inside of member inside before the click of a confidential conversation and he doesn't ask him straight up like last time does ask him are you the king of the Jews. This time he should've asked him. So are you the son say that he says so what you come from you from yeah so he's he's really trying to substantiate this claim. Now you know where we live. We hear this question a lot from that.

The people that we live among well where is where you get your authority from right. That really is what Pilate is asking so what's the deal here. There's something about you that's different to write according to your authority where you come from Rachel me, tell me where you come from, you know, yes. So Pilate presses on his own with her, don't you know that I have the authority I have all of Rome. Behind me, I can let you go right right yeah and Jesus non-answers very interesting. As you mentioned.

Isaiah 53 you will find in Isaiah 53 that it says that he was silent before that part recycling. He really doesn't answer. But then Jesus does answer that and he says well look you what you want talk about authority you have any authority given to her and what and what you know what Pilate is doing. She's kinda flaunting that authority same.

Don't you understand I have power over life and death. Jesus you want talk about power. You don't know about power over life and death. You think you have it right but you really don't. You really don't. And I think that disturbs Pilate again to because Jesus answers and such such a way as to not so much to impugn his power, but to say you're just a little power guy trying to secure his own freedom. This is not about that at all. This is about sin right exactly and even in that little tag he puts on the end of that one comment about your authority comes from is the one who delivered me to have the greater sin you know and who is he talking about all we go for our speculating who the religious authorities like you and I would yeah no people at Caiaphas who represents them. If you remember back in John. John 1110, John 11, I think it was the Caiaphas is the one is smart for us to kind of sacrifice. When I die for the peaceful people and stubble people writing condemned so so that that's the whole push right here, the one who delivered the grace of greater sin. Interesting that Jesus would go there when he's talking about power and authority. Yes, I think. I think these comments are really disturbed Pilate. Let's go on verse 12.

Shall I read. Okay, so from then on a pilot sought to release him disturbed by this conversation but the Jews cried out. If you release this man. You are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king of poses Caesar say no since switch the argument from a religious one to a political and political. They know that he is susceptible to this argument.

Verse 13 someone Pilate heard these words brought Jesus outside and on the judgment seat of the place called called the stone pavement in Aramaic, Tabitha, and now it was the day of preparation of the Passover was about the sixth hour and he said to the Jews to hold your king. They cried out, away with him away with him crucified. Pilate said to them, shall I crucify your king and the chief priests chief priests answered. We have no seasons there. That's for the musical guys incredible, so he delivered them over to them to be crucified okay so this passage I just stopped dead there. At that point. This week we have no king but Caesar here are the religious leaders of the people who from their very inception were identified as a people whose king is their God. Yes, and especially from the mouth of the religious leaders. That's what I say are saying we have no king but Caesar. They have completely abandoned their their claim to God as their king and are just playing this political card to get this get rid of the sky and you know they're actually being prophetic and they don't know it is actually stating the true nature of the hard not to recognize Jesus thinking their only king is Caesar right really is what this whole passages about this concert is only between King King King, Caesar, Caesar, Caesar, who has the authority who is King Messiah, God's anointed one. Or is it Caesar right and I think that's what Pilate is dealing with this discovery, king maybe is where you come from and why would they claim that you so you, the son of God. I mean, what's about yeah I know, is there a kingdom going to rise up in a kingdom of soldiers right right after it thrashed right yes I mean all the stuff is playing. We have no king but Caesar. That line will echo through we have no king but Caesar, and indeed with the King of Kings and Lord of lords standing in front of them. That is actually true. Actually, that's that that's the nature of your heart, although what they're trying to do is use a political lever on him by saying you know where a worm Caesar said they never were on Caesar's side.

I'm really not impressed by season.

This is totally false. I'm in the just just playing the political argument but they understood they understood that if if one day if they as the local leaders of the area went to Rome and complaint decisions that your guy you sent to us that Gov. Pilate guy you know we had this political insurrections. This Jesus want to be king. And he did not put down this guys is guys ambitions. Pilate would be out. It would be so Pilate knows he's got asked him it was a very persuasive argument that he had deck the chief priests as we have no king but Caesar before we go on. We just cannot skip past the fact that John tells us very specifically now. It was the day preparation for the Passover big deal right so I would encourage you who are listening to this. If you haven't done it or you are in the habit of doing it. Go back to Exodus 12 and read about the gods putting in place the Passover and what it meant. Take your concordance and look Passover and you'll come up with a bunch of Old Testament passages talking about how to observe the Passover and wine and then I look at your New Testament passages where there's a bunch of him in the gospel is just one or two in the letters but John says very specifically. This is the day of preparation for the Passover code. Every Jew understands lambs are about to be slaughtered something important is going to be done with the blood and this is one of the three major holidays that we are commanded to go to Jerusalem to observe.

It was not an accident that the right kitchen happened on Passover and this fits in with the labor trail have Christ as the Lamb of God. He's just calling to the forefront again right John the Baptist first acclamation when he saw Jesus, behold the Lamb of God and takes away the sin of the world and he's talking about Passover time up so the Passover connection. It is so strong, so get up on your Passover. You'll gain huge and sightless move on to read from 17 okay so well. Verse 16 he delivered them over to them to be crucified so they took Jesus and he went out bearing his own cross to this place called the place of a skull which in Aramaic is called Golgotha and there they crucified him, and with him to others, one on either side in Jesus between them. Pilate wrote an inscription and put it on the cross and it read Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews. Many of the Jews read this inscription for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written Aramaic in Latin and Greek. So the chief priest of the Jews said to the pilot right king of the Jews, but rather, this man said I am King of the Jews. Pilate answered what I've written. I've written in your face.

You know Pilate is done with the whole thing is he was done with the whole thing. Okay so you know really caught my attention this week has John just says this very straightforward they were crucified with him to others. One either side in Jesus between Genesis anymore about that. Luke's gospel tells us a lot. One of those men and one did not believe in Jesus was between them and one of the other gospel so they both disbelieved first as both Says something about those hours on the cross brought one of those men to belief in some of you listening to this.

You know were always telling you go and read the parallel accounts so go find these accounts especially the Luke account which is in chapter 23 of Luke, but going to read the details in the parallel accounts and then think about that. John tells us Jesus, the Lamb of God was put to death in between an unbeliever and a believer, and what might that be what is God saying to us there. That sent me a minute thinking of Romans five pulses while we work while we were helpless. While we were still sinners. While we still were his enemies, Christ died for us right right yeah night. I've always speculated that the inclusion of two others to crucified with Jesus was meant to really sort of impugn Jesus reputation slips crucified by himself know. Hey, let's put between two robbers. Jesus was not the only man ever crucified.

Know what I mean is crucified as if it was a way of visually on a billboard style drag people disguised as bad as Rob so that that's part that the thing about bearing his own cross, and maybe remember about the sacrifice of Isaac back to carrying the lead, 20, 22 yeah yeah yeah that that he was supposed be sex, but he carries on what the sacrifice and so that's not an accidental connection as well. Those things start popping up.

The more you read scriptures so and I know they popped up to me when he carried his cross. I remember Jesus telling his apostles. How many times one time a redone range of nine know if you want to come after me to take up your cross daily and follow me. And here's Jesus taking up his cross. I mean, when you see it this visually you understand that taking up the cross means taking the burden of the accusations in the shame and the reproof you get from people and eventually going to your own death your own sacrifice is a one-way trip right if you want to follow me if you are my disciples. This is where I'm going you set to go the same way.

That's really pretty. So yeah you know so you made references to me to go to Genesis 22 to Abraham and Isaac so I would encourage you listeners that go back to Genesis 22. Read the account pair Abraham taking his only son is only son son who was born to him from the body as good as dead as his Hebrews tells us by the promise of God and heading up the same mountain the same mountain order to give his life is not an accidental parallel so effective like it's one of those things where you realize that this word comes alive off the pain you see from the very beginning, God was laying out this picture giving his only begotten son to save us. This is a deliberate prefigured planned action of God.

This is not an accident. In fact, let me Peter says that just because I got a look at it. I think it's really soever probably hear the to see what he says it's and it's in acts two. Verse 23 talk amongst yourselves. Okay. This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, crucified and killed by the hands of how both those things. True, isn't that by the foreknowledge and pre-plan of God. You crucified right and those of the bold words of Peter's. He stood up with all those people on on Pentecost else. Seven weeks afterwards you crucified this man.

But this was a deliberate plan. This is a definite plan of God and would never be thwarted. While what were out of time but will pick up the second half of night. John 19 I would encourage you to read Isaiah 53 you'll find a ton of parallels and since it's the day before resurrection day.

This would be a very good time to read Isaiah 53, oh it's just me. Even Psalm 2222 is figure prominently in the passage were to talk about next week. The actual dying of Jesus, but take these hours before we celebrate the resurrection tomorrow morning and contemplate the one who was given for our sin exactly and put yourself in the shoes of the people who were pilgrims in Jerusalem during the Passover and they ran across on the road this guy up on the cross came to town and they wondered what his crime was and it said on the label above his head and asked themselves that a crime is true is that why is he dying and so from that point on people assets in question. Is this man and was said don't come with us next week. Jim Dorothy more than